Us meter



(No Model.)

5 Sheets- Sheet 1.

GrAS` METER.

Patented Np'v. 8.1887.

umher. waningw".

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. J. BELL.

GAS METER.

No. 373,003. Patented Nov. 8,1887.

N. Pnts. mwmmnphm. vla-ungen nc,

' (No'MoaeI.) 5 sheets-,sheet 3.

H. J. BELL.

GAS METER.

. Patented Nov. 8, .1887.

Nojsvaoos.

Nv PETERS, Phew-Lithography'. Wnhnghm, D4 C.

(No Modell.) 5 sheets-sheet 4.A

H. J. BELL. @As METER.'

No. 373,003.. Patented Nov. 8, 1887.

l f7/venan N. PETERS, Phowumogmpher. wuhngum D. (L

(No Mael.) u Y n 5 slheets-shevn 5.

H. J.B-BLL. GAS METER. No. 373,003. Patented Nov. 8, .1887.

Witnesses.

N. Ps1-zus, Pmmuwmmr. wiwngm. n. c. l

Arent `triceO HAROLD J. BELL, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

ens-M ETER.

SPECIFICATION forming par-tof Letters Patent No. 373,003, dated November8, 1887. Application filed May 4, 1887. Serial No. 237,057. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, .HAROLD J. BELL, of Lincoln, in the county ofLancaster and State of Nebraska, have'invented certain new and usefulImprovementsin Gas-Meters; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description o f the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, and tothe iigures and letters of reference marked thereon.

Heretofore gasmeters haver been employed consisting of a main casingdivided into two or more compartments, in one ot' which the diaphragmsor operating parts are located and in the other the valve mechanism, andiu some instances the registering mechanism also, the gas to be measuredbeing admitted to the lastmentioned chamber from the main, and eX-hausted, after passing through the valves, measuring devices, Src., intothe chamber containing the diaphraghm or equivalent devices againstwhich the gas operates to communicate motion to the registering devices.All said meters are, however, open to several objections, the principalone being that the partition between the chambers is liable to becorroded by the ammonia or other substance carried in with the gas andto leak, thus permitting the passage ot' gas to the consumer from onechamber to the other without being measured. Another, and veryseriousone, is that the shafts and rods passing through thepartition'must be packed in order to prevent leakage, which packing verymaterially increases the friction and the consequent retarding of theaction of the meter, causing the supply of gas to be lessened and themeter to operate in a very unsatisfactory manner. There are many otherobjections to this form of meter, among which may be mentioned theinaccessibility of the operating parts to .permit of adjustment orrepainwhen necessary or desirable, as in all of them it is required, inorder to permit this, that a portion at least of the main casing beremoved, thus practically destroying the meter.

It is the 'object-of my present invention, however, to obviate all theobjections pointed out above and others found in Apractice to eX- ist inmeters of this class, and it consists, generally stated, in locating allthe operating parts of the meter within a chamber into which gas isadmitted from the main., so that no packing will be required tending toin any Way retard the action of the mechanism.

It further consists in certain novel arrangementsof parts, whereby theoperations will be carried on more positively and regularly thanheretofore, and the gas passing through be accurately measured, all as Iwill hereinafter fully describe, and point out particularly in theclaims at the end of this specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective Viewof a meter constructed in accordance with my invention, a portion of thecasing being broken away to show the internal arrangements. Fig. 2 is atop plan view with the top removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on theline y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a sectional view on the line xxof Fig. 2;Fig. 5, a sectional view on the line z z of Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a bottomplan view showing the arrangements of supply and exhaust channels; Fig.7, a detail perspective View of the main shaft and the adjustable crankpin mounted thereon,and showing also thetripping device for preventingthe backward movement of the meter. Figs. S to 13, inclusive, are detailviews, showing the manner of connecting the diaphragm-holding frameswith the diaphragm.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the sameparts.

A represents the metallic main casing of the meter, constructedpreferablyof circular form, as shown, though, if desired, square orother shaped casings may be employed, as will be readily understood, andit is provided with the top A and the bottom A2, the latter beingsecured slightly above the lower end of the side portions of the casing,so as to accommodate the inlet and exhaust passages communicating withthe various diaphragm-chambers and with the valve-ports of the valves,though, if desired, these passages can be placed above the bottom andinside the casing proper. On opposite sides of the'chamber R,within thiscasing,are diaphragms B B2 B3 B2 preferably of leather, secured at theiredges in frames C, constructed as shown in Figs. 8 to 13, inclusive, anddescribed specifically hereinafter, which frames are secured to thesides of the casing A at their edges by means of solder or othersuitable fastening means, if desired, and it will IOO be noted inpassing that the edges of these frames are rounded, so that the leatherwill not be bent over a sharp corner of metal when the diaphragms aremoved backward and forward.

rlhe four diaphragms being slightly less in length than the diameter ofthe casing when they are secured in place, there will be formed fourchambers,U' C C C, between each diaphragm and the easing behind itclosed at the top by a projecting iange, c, to which frames C aresecured, as shown in Figs. l and 3, and at the lower side by the bottomAzof the main easing. Each of the chambers thus formed7 it will benoted, is deeper at the center than near thc edges, thus permitting ofthe maximum movements ofthe diaphragm in and ont without having anywaste space to be iillcd with dead7 gas, and providing forthenearlycomplete exhaustion of the gas in the chambers when the diaphragrns aremoved therein.

On either side of the center of each of the diaphragms are secured metalplates C5 C5, having their bedges turned, as shown, to prevent sharpcorners coming in contact with the material of the diaphragm and wearingor tearing it, and to the outer one of each pair of these plates issecured one end of a pistonrod or plate, D, the other end of which iseon nected to the plate ou the opposite diaphragm, as shown, so thatwhen one is moved inward the opposite one moves outward, as will bereadily understood, and near the center both rods are provided withlongitudinal slots d, for the passage and accommodation of a centralstandard, E, carrying the main operatingshaft F. This standard Eisconstructed preferably of cast metal, and is secured to the bottom A, asshown, while its upward extension is hollow and forms the bearing forthe shaft F,which passes up through it and is provided on its upper endwith a small casting, G, having the extension G', in which are twoperforations, g g', at right angles to the shaft F, as shown. rlhe upperperforatiomg, is smooth, and in it is adapted to slide a guide-rod, H,the outer end of which is secured to a casting, J, having thereon a studor pin, z', while the lower perforation, g', is screw-threaded andadapted to receive the end of the screw J', passing throughaperforationin casting J and prevented from longitudinalmovement therein by means ofcollars jj,soldcred or otherwise secured thereon, as shown, and thisscrew is further provided near its outer end beyond the casting with across-pin, j', serving as a means for turning said screw, as will beexplained. It will be seen that by turning this screw to the right orleft the casting J can be moved nearer to 0r farther from casting G onshaft F, the rod H serving as a guide and the collarsjj causing themovement.

Upon the inner end of the rod H, beyond the shaft F, is secured a ioopK, constructed preferably of sheet metal, and between the arms of thisloop isplaecd a weighted pawl or catch, K', pivot-ed upon the rod H, andwith its upper engaging end, k', projecting above the same, while itslower end is weighted, cansing it to assume the position shown normally,the connectingportion k of theloop K preventing its turning, save in onedirection.

The two rods or plates D connecting diaphragms on opposite sides are, asstated, provided with the slots at their centers, through which theshaft F, or, rather, the tubuiar portion of support E, passes, and arefurther provided on one side these slots with the upward extensions orpins L L, to the upper ends'ot' which are loosely pivotedconnecting-rods L' L', their other ends being pivoted to the stud i onthe casting J, and being secured thereon by the small pin passingthrough it, as shown. Now, it will be seen that if the diaphragms,beginning with, say, B', then B, the., are pressed outward in successionthe connectingrods L will, acting through the crank-pin 1', cause theshaft F to be rotated to the left, as indicated by the arrow, Fig. 2,and t-he trip K is so positioned relative to the connectingrods L' thatits upper end will pass beneath them and be moved backward, thuspermitting their passage; but as soon as it has passed the lower heavierend causes it to resume normal position, and should the motion of thediaphragms and shaft F be reversed this upper end would collie incontact with the connecting-rod L', and the portion lc of the loop Karresting the backward movement of the trip, the mechanism would bestopped.

Mounted upon the shaft F is a worm, M, with which a wormgear, M',secured ou a horizontal shaft, N, engages, said shaft passing through astuffing-box, m, in the casing A at one side between two of thediaphragms B B, and its outer end is provided with a gear, m', engagingthe first gear in the train of the registering mechanism O, preferablylocated in a casing, O', secured to the outside ol' the casing A, asshown. In order to cause the rotation of this shaft F, some means mustbe provided for admitting the gas to the chambers in rear ofthediaphragms in succession and exhausting it from the chamber of theopposite connected diaphragm into the outlet from the meter, and inorder to provide for thisllocatc, preferably beneath the bottom proper,A, several channels, l) BQ (g' R R', as shown in Fig. 6. The twopassages l P' connect the chambers C' C with the ports a' c,respectively, in the valve seat S, located on the bottom of the casingto one side ot' the shaft F, and

.the passages Q Q' connect the chamber G'Z C' with the ports ct c,respectively, in the valveseat S', also located in the bottom of thecasing at right angles to the valveseat S. Fassages Q' and F' cross eachother near the center of the easing at right angles, as shown, one, P',being located below the other, and there being no communication betweenthem. Passages B B' connect the center ports, r o", of the valve-seats SS', respective] y, with theexhaust-pipe U, passing up through thechamber B in one corner, between the diaphragrns,

IOO

IIO

and out through the topV of the main easing, as

i with the chambers t t therein, adapted to be ward, moving theconnecting-rod, and through reciprocated'back and forth upon thevalveseats S S, respectively, by connecti ng-rods T T', connected to acrank, V, on the lower end of theshaft F, said valves being guided andprevented from leaving their seats by rods ifl t3, passing through loopssecured to the bottoni of the casing in the ordinary manner. The valvesand crank V are so situated relative to each other and the crank-pintatthe upper end of the shaft that when the latter is, say, in the positionin Fig. l the valve T is moved toward the center, leaving the port c' inconnection with the chamber B, the port c3 in connection with theexhaust-port r through the chamber t in the valve, and the valve T is athalf-stroke, leaving the port c4 partly open to chamber B and port czconnected by chamber twith the exhaust-port r in valve-seat S. (Notshown.) A further motion of the shaft F in the direction of motionindicated would, as'will be seen from Fig. 5,cause the valve TX to bemoved farther outward, fully opening the port c* and fully connectingthe port c2 with the exhaust, and at the same time move valve T outward,closing port c', and then connecting with the eXhaustport r and openingthe port c3 to the chamber B.

From the above general description the operation of the device will bereadily under-V stood.

The gas is admitted from the main or sup-A ply through the inlet W andfills the chamber B,then passes through the port in the valveseat thatvhappens to be open, (in the present instance'referring to Fig. 5,)through c', fills the chamber C', and presses the diaphragm outit theshaft F, to the position shown, the gas in the chamber C3 exhaustingthrough the .port c3 to the exhaust r and exit-pipe U. The continuedmovement ofthe crank V causes the valve TX to admit the gas from chamberB to the chamber C4, pressing its diaphragm outward, and at the sametime exhausting the gas in C2 out through the port cAz and exhaust invalve-seat S to the pipe' U. Then the chamber C3 istilled and the gas inchamber C eX- hausted, and soon, filling the chambers in suscession andexhausting the opposite chambers into the outlet-pipe and rotating theshaft F, from which motion is communicated through the worm andcto-operating wheel and shaft to the registering mechanism. The capacityof the chambers and thefgearing to the registering mechanism are soregulated thaty the quantity passing through the former and into theexit-pipe will be accurately measured and registered.

The valves are of course arranged so that there will be a continuousmotion, and one chamber will be open to the supply of gas until the nextis fairly started on its outward movement, so there will' be no jerky orsudden movement of the diaphragms due to sudden impulses, but therotation of the shaft will be uniform and continuous as long as ggas issupplied.

It will be notedthat between two of the diaphragms, B3 B4, there is morespace than between any other two, and this is for the purpose ofpermitting the passage of the shaft N, connected to the registeringmechanism, and also foranother purpose about to be described.

Oftentimes meters, either from variations in the density of the gas orsome other reason, get out of order and fail to register the quantity ofgas passed through them properly, and in order to correct this it isnecessary to adjust the throw of the crank-pin to which the diaphragmsare connected. This is ordinarily done by dismantling the meter andmoving nuts on the crank on either side of the pin inward or outward, soas to carry the pin nearer to or farther from the operating center; butall this I obviate by the employment of the adjusting screw J', carryingthe casting J, `cooperating with the casting on the end of the shalt F,and provide in the side of the casing A, above the register, an opening,fr, closed by a plate, fr', that can be removed when desired, so that akey having a split end for engaging the cross-pin j may beinserted intothe easing and the screw J turned in or out, adjusting the pin z' nearerto or farther from the shaft F, as will be readily understood.

It will be noted that all the operating parts of the meter are locatedwithin the chamher into which the gas is admitted preliminarily, andconsequently no packing is required for any of the operating partsexcept the shaft communicating motion to the register, that is v locatedto one side and betweenthe diaphragms, and between the register-casingand the main casing, so that even should any leakage take place in thispacking the gas would only enter the register-casing and not escape intothe air. AEven this packing might be dispensed with and theregister-casing be open to the chamber B; but thisis objectionable inthat the impurities in the gas would be liable to discolor the glass andobscure a View ofthe dial-faces, and l prefer to employ the arrangementshown.

The friction produced by packing will be reduced by the employment oftheabove means to a minimum, and the shaft on which even this small amountis produced is geared down so that its motion is slow and positive,readily overcoming it.

Another and quite an important advantage is gained by employinghorizontal valve-seats and locating them above the bottom of the maincasing, in that they will be self-clearing of any deposit, and any watercondensed in the main chamber will not tend to clog them, but will bebelow their upper sides on the bottom, and it may be drawn off from saidICO IOS

IIO

chamber, when desired, through a perforation, x2, in the bottom, closedby a suitable plug or cap, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3.

It is of course desirable and even necessary that the edges of theleather diaphragms should come in contact when moving only with roundedsurfaces, and as a means of accomplishing this result I secure them, asbefore stated, in frames C. In Figs. S to 1.3, inelusive, are shown thevarious steps of making these frames, and the following is a descriptionof the various manipulations. As all the sides of the frame are alike,the description of one will apply equally well to all.

In Fig. S is shown a portion of the strip of metal, preferably tin,forming one side of the frame, and this is first bent over at the edges,as shown in Fig. 9, forming the beads Z, which are pressed down upon thesurface and the strip bent longitudinally at the middle, as shown inFig. l0, thebeads l forming rounded edges for the plates, against whichthe leather works. Four ot' these strips are formed in this manner, andthen are placed upon the edges ofthe square piece of leatherconstituting the diaphragm, with one end ofthe inner side of each stripoverlapping that of the next, as shown in Fig. 11. Then the edges of theplates are clamped tightly on the leather and at the ends on each other,forming a metal frame inclosing the leather, which can be secured on thecasing and employed without further manipulation, if desired; but Iprefer to further finish them. The corners ofthe frame are now eut off,asshown in dotted lines, Fig. 11, and full lilies, Fig. 12, presentingthe appearance indicated in the latter ligure,with two thicknesses ofmetal in each side of the leather. New, in order to linish the frame andrender it much stiffer and more substantial, I bend the strips composingit longitudinally, as indicated in dotted lincsZ 2, Fig. I2, folding theportion with the leather between over upon one side, as' shown clearlyin Fig. 13, the beveled portion at the corner where the cut was madeforming thejoint indicated at 4 in said figure, thus completing theframe. New, it will be noted that the edges ofthe leather come only inContact with the rounded beads at the edges of the frame on either side,and that at or very near this point there are six thicknesses of metaland two of leather, forming an extremely rigid and substantial frame.These frames can be secured in position in the'casing A by solder, or inany suitable manner desired, can be manufactured cheaply, and will servethe purpose for which they are intended in an admirable manner.

A further advantage incident to the cinployment of the operating deviceslocated within the gas-chamber and the dispensing with the packing andconsequent diminution of friction, lies in enabling me to employ a muchsmaller plate C at the center of the diaphragm, through which motion iscommunicated to the connecting-rods D, not only reducing the weight,butallowing a much greater reciprocation of the diaphragms in thechamber, which, as stated, is also permitted by their semieireularshapc.The smallplates also present an advantage 4over the employment of thelarger ones heretofore used in that with the latter the amount ofleather between their edges and the retaining-frames is necessarilysmall, and when they are reeiprocatcd back and forth the leather isdoubled back upon itself when passing the center, thus renderingit moreliable to wear and cut than is the case where the plates are small andthe amount of leather greater.

Other advantages incident to the construe tions shown and describedherein will at once present themselves to those skilled inthe art, andit is evident that various modifications can be made wit-hout departingfrom the spirit of my invention, and therefore I do not desire to beconfined to the exact arrangements herein shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is l. In agasmeter, the combination, with four chambers, the diaphragms formingone side of each, an operating-shaft, a registering mechanism gearedthereto, rods connecting opposite diaphragms, and connecting rodsconnected at one end to the last-mentioned rods at one end and to theshaft for causing its rotation when the diaphragms are moved inward insuccession, of a central chamber with which one side el' each of thediaphragme is normally in comnnlnication, aud in which all the operatingparts, save the register, are located, passages leading from the centralchamber to each of thediaphragm-chambers, exhaust-passages communicatingwith the exit-pipe and valves, also located in the central chamber andoperated from the operatingshaft for connecting eachofthediaphragmchambers with the central chamber in succession, and atthe same time connecting the diaphragm-chamber opposite the one soconnected with the exit-pipe through the exhaustpassage, and asupply-pipe leading to the central chamber, substantially as described.

2. In a gas-meter, the combination,with the four chambers, thediaphragms forming one side of each, rods connecting oppositediaphragms, an operatingshaft, and connectingrods connected at one endto the last-men tioncd rods at one end and to the shaft for causing therotation of the latter by the successive movement ot the diaphragme, ofpassages connecting each of the diaphragmchambers with a chambercommunicating with the gas-supply, two cXhaust-passages-one for cachpair of chambers-and two valves operated from the operating-shaft,adapted to connect each of the chambers in succession with the supplyand at the same time connect the opposite chamber with the exhaust, anda registering mechanism connected with the main operating shaft,substantially as described.

3. In a gasmeter, the combinatiomwith the lOO operating-diaphragms, theconnecting-rods, the operating shaft having the adjustable crank-pin towhich said rods are connected, the centralchamber connected with thegas-supply, and valve devices connected to the operating-shaft foradmitting gas to the diaphragmchambers in succession, all said operatingparts being located within the central chamber, of a registeringmechanism operated from a shaft geared to the main shaft, saidfirst-mentioned shaft passing out through the main casing between two ofthe diaphragms, substantially as described.

" 4. In a gas-meter, the combination,with the operating diaphragms andconnecting-rods, of

the main shaft to which they are connected, and

a registering mechanism geared to said shaft, a rod secured to saidshaft, the metal loop secured to the rod and the weighted pawl hung uponthe rod between the arms of said loop, so as to (zo-operate when movingin one direction with the connecting-rods to arrest the action, but whenmoved in the opposite direction to permit their free passage,substantially as described.

5. In a gas-meter, the combination,with diaphragms and connecting-rods,ofthe main shaft and a registering mechanism geared thereto, a castingsecured to said shaft, a casting having a crank-piu thereon to which theconnectingrods are attached, a guide-rod, and an adj usting-screwconnectingthe two castings,whereby the throw of the crank-pin may beadjusted,

substantially as describe 6. In a gas-meter, the combination,withdiaphragms and connectingrods, of the main shaft and aregisteringmechanism geared thereto, a casting secured to said shaft, a castinghaving a crank-pin thereon to which said connectingrods are attached7 aguide-rod and an adj usting-screw secured to the last-mentioned casting,and perforations in the casting on the crankshaft with which theyco-operate,whereby the throw ofthe crank-pin may be adjusted,substantially as described.

7. In a gas-meter, the combination,with the diaphragms andconnectingrods, of the main shaft and a registering mechanism gearedthereto, a casting secured to said shaft, a casting having a crank-pinthereon to which the connecting-rods are attached, a guide-rod and anadjusting-screw connecting the two castings, and a perforation in themain casing in line with the shaft, whereby the screw can be manipulatedby the insertion of the proper tool and the crank-pin adjusted withoutremoving `themachinery from the casing, substantially as described.

8. rIhe combination, with the diaphragms and connectingrods, of the mainshaft and a registering mechanism geared thereto, the casting secured tothe shaft, the casting having a crankpiu thereon, the guide-rod and adjlisting-screw connecting the two, and the pivoted pawl mounted upon theextension of the guide-rod and adapted to co-operate with theconnectingrods to prevent the backward movement of the mechanism,substantially as described.

9. The combination,with the diaphragm, of the frame consisting ofthe'single strips of material, each having beaded edges and bent overupon itself, with the diaphragm between said edges, substantially asdescribed.

l0. The improved frame for holding the diaphragms, consisting of themetal strips having the beaded edges folded longitudinally and clampedupon the edges of the diaphragm and again bent longitudinally,with theleather between them, substantially as described.

HAROLD J. BELL.

Witnesses:

MELvILLE CHURCH, THOMAS DURANT.

